As the parent of a special needs child, you must represent your child’s interests at school, in the community, everywhere. You cannot leave this job to others! Advocacy is not a complex or mysterious process. It requires clarity, focus and persistence. It also requires certain skills:

This workshop will teach you how to:

Gather facts, organize information, get ready

Understand the Rules of the Game

Plan and prepare for success

Document, document, document…

Ask the right questions…listen to the answers

Identify problems and propose solutions

Drive the process

Advocacy at School

“A good education is the next best thing to a pushy mother.” Charles Schulz

This workshop will teach you how to:

Become your child’s case manager

Understand your school district’s Rules of the Game…who are the players and decision makers?

Overcome objections and pitfalls

Create an effective IEP

Create effective paper trails, prepare documentation and letters

Prepare for and manage school meetings

Understand and use the Hewko decision

Autism treatment funding – securing its future:

“If we don’t know our history, we are destined to repeat it”

The landmark Auton decision is the only reason any autism funding exists today. This funding is in jeopardy because there is no statute law to protect it. The decision to continue funding, or not, can be made on a whim by provincial politicians.

Learn the history of the struggle to have medically necessary autism treatment universally accessible and covered by Medicare.

Learn why we need a Canadians with Disabilities Act and an Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Learn about recent and future initiatives to enshrine autism treatment under Medicare.

Learn why your children need you to get involved

We believe people learn best by “doing” rather than watching – so – be prepared to participate and receive on-the-job coaching. We promise – you have never had this much fun in the school principal’s office! Several guest players will join us in re-creating some of the most common and troubling “school scenarios” or nightmares for us to practice our newly-acquired advocacy skills.

Check our website at www.medicareforautismnow.org to see what parents who attended our April 30th workshop had to say. Don’t be disappointed – register today. This workshop is for parents only.

About the presenters:

Jean Lewis:

Jean has been actively involved in the autism treatment movement since 1996, when her youngest son was diagnosed with autism. She became the co-founder and leading spokesperson for FEAT of BC (Families for Early Autism Treatment of BC), an organization dedicated to obtaining science-based autism treatment (ABA) within BC’s healthcare system. Jean was the co-chair of the litigation steering committee for Auton, a Canadian landmark Charter disability case. She performed the same role in Hewko, litigation aimed at ensuring children with autism gain equal access to BC’s education system.

In 2008, Jean co-founded the Medicare for Autism Now! Society, a non-partisan, national advocacy group focused on making science-based autism treatment (ABA) universally accessible and covered under Medicare. Since 1996, Jean has advised hundreds of parents about advocacy, treatment and education issues related to autism. She has presented at numerous rallies, workshops and conferences in BC, Ontario and the Maritimes. Jean is also a member of Civil Rights Now! board of directors.

David Marley:

David has spent his professional career as a trial lawyer, public policy analyst or senior political advisor at both the federal and provincial government levels. Since 1972, he has performed leading roles in over a dozen election campaigns in BC or Ontario. David’s political activity has involved organizing and presenting at many campaign schools and constituency association training sessions.

Throughout his career, he has served as a director of various not-for-profit organizations including, Medicare for Autism Now! and Civil Rights Now!, providing them with strategic counsel. In 2005 and 2008, David designed and helped implement a national political strategy for FEAT of BC and is a co-founder of the Medicare for Autism Now! Society.

Previous Workshops

The April 30th “Getting it Done” Advocacy Workshop was a huge success! It was sold-out, and had a wait-list. All the participants provided valuable feedback…100% said the workshop was what they expected – or – even better….100% said they will recommend this workshop to others! When asked why, parents said:

“Absolutely. Very valuable advice. I would recommend the workshop for parents I know working with school officials.”

“There are many parents who need to learn school advocacy…this workshop was very effective.”

“Yes! It arms parents with the right tools to deal with the school system. It was very empowering!”

“We wish we knew about this years ago.”

“A useful networking connection.”

“This workshop gives parents the tools to do what is needed for our children with confidence.”

“The workshop provides parents with enough knowledge and tools to make the required “noise” in the school district”

“It provided a lot of useful information such as references and sample letters”